Comcast and Discovery Education Launch First-In-the-Nation At-Home Digital Education Service at Indiana State House

By eSchool News

September 21st, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 21, 2009) – Comcast and Discovery Education today announced the launch of Discovery Education On Demand By Comcast, a first-in-the-nation service delivering Indiana families instant and convenient at-home access to digital educational media, homework help tools and more. Discovery Education On Demand By Comcast content is available at no additional cost exclusively to local Comcast Digital Cable customers and online to all Indiana parents and students.

Indiana Lt. Governor, Becky Skillman, and Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Tony Bennett, joined parents, teachers and students, as well as Comcast and Discovery Education executives, in the North Atrium of the Indiana State House for the kick-off of this new at-home, on-demand resource of more than 200 videos from Discovery Education’s award-winning digital media library. In addition, attendees were treated to a tour of the initiative’s companion Web site, which features additional streaming video content, educational family activity ideas, interactive homework help tools, puzzles and more. Parents and caregivers can use the Discovery Education On Demand By Comcast resources at home to supplement the digital content used by educators in schools across the state, extending classroom learning, reinforcing concepts taught in class and further channeling children’s energy into various educational topics.

Discovery Education On Demand By Comcast was inspired by the personal experience of Scott Tenney, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Indianapolis Region. Nearly 20 years ago, Tenney and his wife were seeking tools to supplement the education of their son, who had been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and dyslexia. They discovered that the high-quality educational content available through Discovery was a tremendously valuable resource that engaged their son in learning and made a significant difference in his academic progress. Motivated by this experience, Tenney and Comcast partnered with Discovery Education, a division of Discovery Communications, to advance the shared goal of making educationally relevant media available to Indiana parents and caregivers. Serving more than half of all U.S. schools with curriculum solutions that are scientifically shown to improve student achievement, Discovery Education is the nation’s leading provider of digital educational media.

"Every parent wants to help their child succeed in school," said Tenney. "By combining the power of our two-way interactive fiber-optic network with the outstanding content from Discovery Education, Comcast is pleased to provide a service that helps parents partner with their child’s educator and further engage children in learning."

"Discovery Education is transforming classrooms every day with the highest quality digital content," added Bill Goodwyn, President of Discovery Education. "We’re excited to now utilize the power of technology to extend the impact of our trusted educational content beyond the classroom and into homes across Indiana, fostering ‘any where, any time’ family engagement in the joy of learning with Discovery Education on Demand by Comcast."

Comcast Digital Cable customers in Comcast’s Indianapolis Region, which includes Central and Northeast Indiana, can access Discovery Education On Demand By Comcast content through Comcast’s extensive On Demand library anytime by selecting "Get Local," and then "Education." Like the vast majority of Comcast’s more than 10,000 On Demand programs, Discovery Education On Demand By Comcast content is available to Comcast Digital Cable customers at no extra cost, with the ability to pause, fast forward and rewind selections. Additional free content and other family-friendly resources are available online at www.learningondemand.com/comcast.

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation’s leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.9 million cable customers, 15.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 7.0 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.

Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) revolutionized television with Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education. Powered by the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement. Already, more than half of all U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.